The Shield is an exceptionally well-written show with intriguing characters, exceptional storylines and gritty realism. I have watched The Shield from season 1. My brother got me hooked on it one day when there was a season 1 marathon. The Shield is one of the few shows that is able to delve into the characters background and maintain ongoing storylines without becoming boring. Each character is going through his/her own personal struggles, which makes the show more entertaining and real. None of the characters are perfect and their flaws make them even more likable. Vic Mackey, the leader of the infamous Strike Team, tries to balance his career and his family. Now that he and his wife have separated, Vic tries hard to still be a strong presence in his children's lives. Vic also fights inner battles about how far he is willing to go for justice and for money. I doubt his conscience will ever be clear with the Armenian money train and Det. Crowley's blood on his hands. This season will make or break Vic. He may be taken down by the IAD or he could walk away with nothing but the memories of his actions. One thing is for sure; Vic will never give in or be intimidated by the IAD. He will never change his ways. He works to protect the innocent and he doesn't mind wasting low-life scum if that's what it takes. Season 5 will be Vic's most challenging...will his past come back to haunt him? Shane, a Strike Team member, is basically a complete screw-up. He betrayed his friends and is now trying to gain their trust. I doubt that is ever possible with his wife, Mara, still in the picture. She rules his life, hates Vic, and doesn't know how to keep her mouth shut. This season is sure to reveal if Shane's partnership with Antwon Mitchell will be his demise. Lem, another Strike Team member, is the conscience of the group. He is the one that couldn't handle the guilt and the greed correlated with the money train. He is caring and extremely loyal. Now that he has found out that Vic shot Crowley, he may change his opinion of Vic and the Strike Team. This season, we'll see if he will remain loyal and take the heat for the Strike Team, or if he will turn them in. Either way, he'll always be my favorite. Ronnie, the last Strike Team member, is a man of few words. He is given some of the best lines, yet he is not a character that has been explored in detail. We don't know much about his background or his beliefs. He seems to abide by the "eye for an eye" punishment system. If someone messes with him, he'll make sure they get it right back. He is very loyal and seems to get the Strike Team out of a lot of messes. If Lem doesn't give up info, I bet the IAD will turn to Ronnie since they are mainly gunning for Vic and Shane. We'll see if he goes down or manages to stay out of the IAD witchhunt. Dutch is the lovable, dorky detective who gets picked on by Vic and his fellow officers. He is extremely smart and is probably one of the best detectives on TV, though his talent is rarely recognized. He always seems to be able to put together puzzles that are missing pieces. He is very loyal to his partner, Claudette, which could hurt his career in the long run. Poor Dutch can never seem to find a decent woman. I doubt he has a chance with the new cop, Tina, but that is who he is eyeing. Claudette is another detective who is strong-willed and tough. She will not let anyone feed her bull and she doesn't back down from a fight. She is still bitter over the fact that she was given the Captain's job only to have it taken back. She is an excellent detective but needs to learn to let things go. This season, she is challenged further with lupus. She may work through the pain or realize it is time to turn in her badge. Julien, a cop, is probably one of the most conflicted characters on the show. He is still trying to figure out his sexual orientation. He has been with men but always denies that he is gay. He married a woman and tries to lead a normal life; however, he is sometimes harassed by other cops and there are times when he seems unsure of his feelings. This season, he is training Tina and he is already very tough on her. I think Danny will have to remind him frequently about how many times she let him off the hook when she trained him. As a black officer, Julien is also troubled with the way the barn is run. He took offense to the previous captain's (Rawling) method of search and seizure program, claiming it was targeting poor blacks. He is probably the most likely to transfer or give up police work. Danny is now on desk duty due to her pregnancy. She is mum about the father so the biggest mystery this season will be who the father is. She has had relations with Vic and Dutch (a kiss). She also has had an admirer, troublemaker Taylor, who she has turned down numerous times but maybe he will reappear this season. Danny has matured a lot since the first season and she is now giving advice to new cop, Tina. Danny is already tired of Tina's girliness and expects her to toughen up. Danny loves being a cop so it will be interesting to see if the baby changes anything. Aceveda was the original Captain of the barn. He has always been cocky and he cares more about his political image than helping people. He and Vic have always hated each other but have actually worked together several times to get what they wanted. Aceveda is still battling his emotional/mental troubles related to his rape by a male criminal, whom he eventually murdered. He has seemingly given up prostitutes for his wife but I doubt that will last. He has a lot of anger and rage to work on before he can be good father and husband. Billings is the new captain which is a joke. He seems to have no desire to lead the station and he will never be taken seriously. The real question with Billings is how long he will last. Kavanaugh, the IAD agent after Vic and the Strike Team, is a new addition to the show. So far, he has proven to be annoying and willing to do anything to get what he wants. So how low will he go? Will he get what he wants out of Lem and Corrine? Will he bring the Strike Team down? He will be Vic's toughest adversary. Season 5 promises to be just as good as or even better than the pervious seasons. I anxiously await each episode and I do own all the seasons on DVD. This is a show I will watch once it's over and I consider it to be one of the best shows ever made.